The Mercedes-Benz 300SL is one of the most iconic cars of all time.
And the contemporary interpretation of it — the SLS AMG gull wing supercar — is dramatic and beautiful. And complex.
Just working out how to shut its marvellous gull wing door from the driver’s seat is drama enough.
Even the door handles are part of the performance: They slide out from the bodywork when you unlock the car, then slide back in again when the car pulls away.
Performance
The SLS is the first car to be built from the tires up by in-house Mercedes-Benz tuners AMG. With a powerful 563 horsepower V-8 engine, the SLS can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds.
Exterior
Mostly made of aluminum, it may not be as elegant as the iconic 300SL but it certainly succeeds as a bad ass, modern day, technological version of it. With both doors raised above the roof the car looks very dramatic.
Interior
Clad in leather and aluminum, there’s something of a retro feel to the cockpit and the look is expensive. The layout is simple and uncluttered.
Best thing:
The doors. Who knew ingress and egress could be so dramatic? Pyrotechnic charges are built into the hinges to enable them to be blown off, so you can climb out in the event of a rollover.
Worst thing:
You’re going to need to be rich to fuel it, let alone buy it.
By the numbers
- Price: $198,000
- Engine: 6.2-litre V-8
- 0-100 km/h: 3.8 seconds
- Power: 563 horsepower
